2023 -- S 0224 | |
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LC001444 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT | |
PROGRAM | |
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Introduced By: Senators DiMario, Euer, Lawson, Sosnowski, Lauria, Valverde, Picard, | |
Date Introduced: February 16, 2023 | |
Referred To: Senate Finance | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by |
2 | adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 112 |
4 | RHODE ISLAND STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM |
5 | 16-112-1. Short title. |
6 | This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Rhode Island Student Loan |
7 | Repayment Program”. |
8 | 16-112-2. Creation. |
9 | (a) There is hereby established at the Rhode Island student loan authority (RISLA) a |
10 | restricted receipt account entitled the Rhode Island student loan repayment fund (“the fund”). The |
11 | fund shall be used to provide eligible individuals, as defined in § 16-112-4, with payment from the |
12 | state to the individual’s lending agency to pay a portion of their student loan debt. |
13 | (b) RISLA shall administer the fund. |
14 | (c) RISLA shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this chapter, |
15 | which shall include, but are not limited to, providing an easy-to-follow guide in a variety of |
16 | languages regarding how to complete the request for student loan repayment assistance. |
17 | 16-112-3. Definitions. |
18 | For purposes of this chapter: |
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1 | “Underserved community” means a federally designated health professional shortage area |
2 | as identified by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration. |
3 | 16-112-4. Eligibility of individuals. |
4 | (a) Individuals employed by a Rhode Island based employer may be eligible for the Rhode |
5 | Island student loan repayment program if they: |
6 | (1) Have unpaid health professional student loans; |
7 | (2) Have a license to practice as a clinical social worker; and |
8 | (3) Have committed to practice full time for two (2) years or practice part-time for four (4) |
9 | years within this state. |
10 | (b) Preference for student loan repayment assistance under this chapter may be given to |
11 | individuals who work in an underserved community. |
12 | 16-112-5. Student loan repayment of program amounts. |
13 | The total amount of student loan repayments may not exceed the outstanding balance. |
14 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT | |
PROGRAM | |
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1 | This act would establish the Rhode Island student loan repayment program wherein eligible |
2 | individuals who: (1) Have unpaid health professional student loans; (2) Have a license to practice |
3 | as a clinical social worker; and (3) Have committed to practice full-time for two (2) years or practice |
4 | part-time for four (4) years, within Rhode Island, may apply to have their student loans, or a portion |
5 | thereof, paid by the state directly to the individual’s lending agency. The program would be |
6 | administered by the Rhode Island student loan authority (RISLA). |
7 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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